Hail Gary Kemp.

Yes he was my glider instructor and yes I have an undying love and appreciation for the guy and yes I am in the book. That said Gary is a true competitor. His love and appreciation for soaring is deeply infectious from back when we landed out a lot and liked it. His "lets go somewhere" from about halfway up the first thermal of the day became a muse. Before cell phones, SPOT, FLARM and hand held computers. When it was just you, a mid performance often wooden or metal glider, a few steam gages and the big playground in the sky. The discussions were generally about all about flying, competing, thermals and the weather. Missing was the latest upgrade discussion for this years wonder screen, shameless self promotion to star status based on an internet connection and uncivil snarky comments posted anonymously between members of the tiny band of brothers. Gary, while not as well known, is cut from the same cloth as the get-it-done generation of Karl, Dick, George and Doug. Guys you know based on their creativity, drive, guts and achievements not their ability master social media. Do not get me wrong I am as appreciative in how far we have come in soaring and society generally as the next guy and it may be just my youth that I miss but Gary's book opens a reminder of a slightly different age and for that I am grateful.


John Seaborn